Surgical instrument with multi-functioning trigger

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a handle assembly. The end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level. The end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position. The end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position. The handle assembly includes a body, a trigger, and an activation element. The trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position. The activation element is configured to activate the end effector at either the first energy level or the second energy level. The trigger is configured to either activate the activation element or determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) an end effector, wherein the end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level, wherein the end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, wherein the end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position; and   (b) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises:
 (i) a body, 
 (ii) a trigger pivotally coupled to the body, wherein the trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position, and 
 (iii) an activation element, wherein the activation element is in communication with the end effector, wherein the activation element is configured to activate the end effector at either the first energy level or the second energy level, wherein the trigger is configured to either activate the activation element or determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger is configured to pivot in the first direction to a first position, wherein the trigger is configured to pivot further in the first direction to a second position, wherein the end effector is configured to operate at the first energy level when the trigger is located at the first position, wherein the end effector is configured to operate at the second energy level when the trigger is located at the second position. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the body further comprises a first switch and a second switch, wherein the trigger is configured to activate the first switch when the trigger reaches the first position, wherein the trigger is configured to activate the second switch when the trigger reaches the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises a Hall Effect sensor, wherein the trigger comprises a magnet, wherein the Hall Effect sensor is configured to determine if the trigger is in the first position or the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the body comprises a force transducer, wherein the force transducer is configured to determine if the trigger is in the first position or the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a damping system, wherein the activation element is coupled with the damping system, wherein the damping system is configured to prevent activation of the activation element if the trigger contacts the activation element at a velocity above a threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises:
 (i) a pistol grip defining a first slot and a second slot,   (ii) a first movable button housed within the first slot, wherein the first movable button is configured to move from an activated state to a deactivated state, and   (iii) a second movable button housed within the second slot, wherein the second movable button is configured to move from an activated state to a deactivated state.   
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument of  claim 7 , wherein the trigger is configured to pivot in the first direction toward the pistol grip to contact the first moveable button or the second movable button when the first moveable button or the second movable button are in the activated state. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein the first movable button is configured to rotate about a pivot in the first slot. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein the first movable button is configured to alter the functionality of the end effector when the trigger contacts the first movable button in the activated state. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger comprises a first grip and a second grip, wherein the first grip is configured to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position, wherein the second grip is configured to activate the activation element. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the first grip is configured to move independently of the second grip. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument of  claim 11 , wherein the first grip and the second grip are configured to travel together though a first range of motion, wherein the second grip is configured to travel through a second range of motion independent of the first grip. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger is further configured to move in a second direction relative to the body, wherein the trigger is configured to determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level based on a position of the trigger in the second direction. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 14 , wherein the body further comprise a mode selection frame, wherein a portion of the trigger is housed within the mode selection frame. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the mode selection frame comprises a mode selection channel, a first energy channel, and a second energy channel, wherein the portion of the trigger housed within the mode selection frame is configured to travel in the mode selection channel when the trigger moves in the second direction, wherein the portion of the trigger housed within the mode selection frame is configured to travel in either the first energy channel or the second energy channel when the trigger moves in the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument of  claim 16 , wherein the trigger is configured to pivot relative to the body while moving in the second direction. 
     
     
         18 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) an end effector, wherein the end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level, wherein the end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, wherein the end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position; and   (b) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises:
 (i) a body comprising a first button, a second button, and a third button, wherein each button is configured to provide a respective activated state of the end effector, and 
 (ii) a trigger assembly pivotally coupled to the body, wherein the trigger assembly further comprises:
 (A) a first trigger configured pivot from a first open position to a first closed position, wherein the first trigger is configured to contact the first button in the first closed position, 
 (B) a second trigger configured to pivot from a second open position to a second closed position, wherein the second trigger is configured to contact the second button in the second closed position, wherein the second trigger is shorter than the first trigger, and 
 (C) a third trigger configured to pivot from a third open position to a third closed position, wherein the third trigger is configured to contact the third button in the third closed position, wherein the third trigger is short than the second trigger. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first trigger, the second trigger, or the third trigger is further operable to transition the end effector from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) an end effector, wherein the end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level, wherein the end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position, wherein the end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position; and   (b) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises:
 (i) a body, 
 (ii) a trigger pivotally coupled to the body, wherein the trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position, wherein the trigger is configured to actuate in a second direction relative to the body to select whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level, and 
 (iii) an activation element, wherein the activation element is in communication with the end effector, wherein the activation element is configured to activate the end effector at either the first energy level or the second energy level.